Means for affixing an ornamental sculpture to a sound emitting device

Abstract

An ornamental sculpture having an aesthetically pleasing shape (e.g. such as the face of an animal) is easily and reliably affixed to the front of an electronic sound emitting device, such as a portable audio cassette player, or the like. The ornamental sculpture has a hollow interior and a plurality of sound holes so that sound emitted by an audio speaker of the sound emitting device appears to come from the sculpture. According to a first embodiment of the invention, the sculpture is affixed to the sound emitting device by a speaker grille, one end of which retains the audio speaker outside the sound emitting device to be surrounded by the sculpture. According to a second embodiment of the invention, a plurality of attachment hooks extend from the sound emitting device for receipt within corresponding slots formed in the ornamental sculpture whereby to affix the sculpture to the sound emitting device.

Having thus set forth the preferred embodiments, what is claimed is: 
     
       1. A combination comprising a sound emitting device, an ornamental sculpture, and means to affix said ornamental sculpture to said sound emitting device, said ornamental sculpture having an opening formed therein, and said sound emitting device having a plurality of slots formed therein, and   said means to affix said ornamental sculpture to said sound emitting device including coupling means having a first end received through and retained within the opening of said ornamental sculpture, whereby the first end of said coupling means is attached to said sculpture, said coupling means also having a plurality of flexible legs projecting therefrom and snap-fit within respective ones of said slots in said sound emitting device, whereby said coupling means and the ornamental sculpture attached thereto are affixed to said sound emitting device.   
     
     
       2. The combination recited in claim 1, further comprising an audio speaker to emit sounds produced by said sound emitting device, said speaker attached to the first end of said coupling means and supported by said first end at a location outside of said sound emitting device to be surrounded by said ornamental sculpture. 
     
     
       3. The combination recited in claim 2, further comprising electrically conductive wires connected between said audio speaker located outside said sound emitting device and the interior of said sound emitting device, said sound emitting device having a hole therein to permit said wires to pass therethrough. 
     
     
       4. The combination recited in claim 2, wherein said audio speaker attached to the first end of said coupling means is received within the opening in said ornamental sculpture. 
     
     
       5. The combination recited in claim 4, wherein said ornamental sculpture has a hollow interior and a plurality of sound holes formed through said sculpture opposite said opening therein, said audio speaker received within said opening and aligned with said sound holes so that sounds emitted by said speaker pass through said sound holes. 
     
     
       6. The combination recited in claim 1, wherein said ornamental sculpture includes a first wall surrounding the opening formed in said sculpture, the first end of said coupling means moved through said opening for receipt by said sculpture inwardly of said first wall whereby to attach said coupling means to said sculpture. 
     
     
       7. The combination recited in claim 6, wherein said ornamental sculpture includes a second wall surrounding the opening formed in said sculpture and spaced from said first wall such that a channel is formed between said first and second walls, the first end of said coupling means moved through said opening for engagement by said sculpture at said channel between said first and second walls. 
     
     
       8. The combination recited in claim 6, wherein said ornamental sculpture is manufactured from a resilient material having a spring-like memory. 
     
     
       9. A combination comprising a sound emitting device, an ornamental sculpture, and means to affix said ornamental sculpture to said sound emitting device, said ornamental sculpture having a hollow interior and an opening communicating with the hollow interior, and said sound emitting device having a plurality of slots formed therein,   said means to affix said ornamental sculpture to said sound emitting device including coupling means having a base and a plurality of legs projecting therefrom and adapted to be received within respective ones of said plurality of slots in said sound emitting device, whereby said coupling means is affixed to said sound emitting device,   said ornamental sculpture also having first and second walls, said first wall surrounding the opening in said ornamental sculpture and said second wall located at the hollow interior of said ornamental sculpture and spaced inwardly of said first wall such that a channel is formed between said first and second walls, said base of said coupling means moving through said opening and into the interior of said ornamental sculpture for receipt at said channel between said first and second walls for connecting said coupling means and said sound emitting device affixed thereto to said ornamental sculpture.   
     
     
       10. The combination recited in claim 9, wherein said plurality of legs projecting from said coupling means are flexible so as to be snap-fit within respective ones of said plurality of slots in said sound emitting device. 
     
     
       11. The combination recited in claim 9, wherein said sound emitting device is a portable cassette player.